Many years ago, I bought a Nintendo DS and shortly after that, the oh so wise Nintendo released the infamous DS lite. Then after a reasonable amount of time, the DSi was released and as expected, the new version(DSi XL) came to be shortly after that. Thank God, I haven't bought another handheld since the original DS. However, I now feel the need to obtain a wifi-capable handheld since every desktop or laptop i've ever had and likely ever will have costs more for reasonable Internet-connectivity than any of these devices do and 3D would be a great bonus but at the same time, I have a very animate feeling that i'm gonna buy this thing to get Animal Crossing 3D and miss out on the 3DSi Xl Lite that comes out later this year. So if you work for Nintendo, know somebody who does, or you can see into the future, then please give me your insight, I will appreciate it very much.

Generally, I consider the DSi as a different system since its system software is very different and there are downloadable games (and a few physical media games, with some having extra features specifically for the DSi (XL)) so I got the DSi as an upgrade from my original DS. Though with the 3DS, the thing I don't like about it is it's bad battery life. The whole point of a portable gaming system is to enjoy it on the go, but how can I enjoy something that can only be used for a short time before the battery has to be recharged again. So, hopefully that issue will be addresses in the next 3DS revision.

Well, the DSi had the ability to use the DS software, but it also has its own software as well, and not to mention built-in internal memory, the ability to copy data and photos to a SD Card, the ability to downloads apps to it and use higher security wireless access points (using WPA, WPA2, etc.), so it wasn't identical with just a camera add-on. Otherwise, if you consider the DSi simply a small revision of the DS then you should consider the 3DS a small revision of the DSi with just a 3D screen add-on.

Though, the DS Lite was just a minor upgrade because it was just a smaller version of the original DS which the same exact system software and compatible formats, and the DSi XL was just a bigger version of the DSi.

My problem is, all these DS variants, up until the 3DS, were at their core the same system, with the same software: they released the same console, with relatively minor additions, 4+ times! It's stupid to me, to do such.

Odds are they will revise the 3DS just like they did the original DS series, maybe release another version or 2, then in about 5-7 years, release a new handheld. Hopefully, with the 3DS, they won't make nearly half a dozen changes to the console for no reason, without actually making a new system.

Think about it, all those DS variants are the same console! It's sad really... throw in a camera or some other crap and everyone jumps all over it. :\

Thats the life span of consoles, usually 5-7 years. Heck, I am AMAZED that we don't already have replacements to the PS3 and the 360.

Nintendo is not stupid enough to leave the handheld games market they effectively created: they would just retire the hardware, just like the Virtual Boy, and move on to another, hopefully proper, project.

Hopefully, back to a proper system that just plays good, quality games, and doesn't require crazy gimmicks to sell.

They need to create a WHOLE NEW ds, not just adding one thing each time. I have a ds lite so simple. You don't need a camera or Internet use when you have cameras and computers itself. You can't even play games or do certain things on the ds like you can on a real computer. You even have to pay for wifi on the dsi. I went to best buy one day to just look around and I came across the new 3ds. They had a game with an airplane on the ds. I tried it and it hurt your eyes. If your looking to get a 3ds get ready to get disappointed. There's a bar that you can use to adjust the 3d on the ds. If the 3d hurts your eyes then don't get it when you can just get a ds lite. You don't need extras to be different. Before you get a new ds test it out before you buy. That just doesnt go for ds it goes for other things too. So that when you get something you will know it works and is comfortable to use. It doesn't Have to be the most expensive one. Ad long as it does what you need that's good. If you Take my advice you will see how much easier your life will be and how much more money you will have left. I hope my advice benefited on you. Have a wonderful day and a merry christmas. ;). :). $) cha ching ($

First let´s start with the ¨lite¨ you added, check the size of the ds lite its the same than the 3ds so i dont think they are going to make it more small because it will be rather a little toy than a console, btw, how the hell are you going to name something XLLITE, no sense at all.

Second, what does the ¨i¨ mean? Maybe the 2 cameras the nintendo dsi has=¨eye¨ but the 3ds has three cameras.

Third, okay the Nintendo 3DS XL, sounds kinda good, not such a large name, and the 3DS could need to grow a little but remember, its a handheld game so it has to fit in your pocket, thing the nintendo dsi couldn´t do so maybe the have to alarge the 3DS to be in the middle of the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DSI XL sizes.

Maybe a virtual Reality..? Idk.. that is the next stage I can think of after 3d.. but hey.. what do I know right? I mean I do remember game makers making a VR game before in the past.. but it had bad graphics and stuff like that, so maybe this will be an enhanced version of it? idk.

And why would you want virtual reality? That's too much radiation in my pocket.

Lite? XL? Could the 3DS get any lighter or bigger? nonsense.

Notice that you can't think of what comes next? Well, Nintendo isn't making another handheld. Nintendo is sticking to home consoles, starting with Wii U. Which will have extreme changes from the Wii, as you will see.

Personally i think they'll go for an all digital route following the trend of IOS & Android based games taking off but with Nintendo's games offered alongside of course, going digital could also mean they can offer music downloads. This would open new revenue streams whilst cutting cost's of publishing, distribution, manufacturing and would cut out the middle men not forgetting that there's plenty of talk of Microsoft taking a digital route with their next console, so it could work but more so i think for a hand held over a console. Draw backs would perhaps be added weight of a hard drive, more heat again from the hard drive, perhaps less battery life or at least no improvement upon current benchmarks, and of course being digital there would be no trade in option hitting retailers and consumers.

But think about the plus's it would offer, you could have all the great Nintendo games, app's and games made for IOS & Android and be able to store music on it having the ability to purchase it online 24/7. If you had all that in one device would you still have a place for an Ipod in your life or would you find it redundant especially since you could just buy one device saving money? Since it would be digital as well savings would be made which is the best thing for Nintendo right now and could mean savings for us in the long run and allot more games to choose from. What ya think?

While I think the above vision would be very nice, it would be hard to get apple on board. they are very picky even with apps. notice that the only ios devices are sold by apple ? while it would be easy to get nice open android and it would be much more “smart device compatible” than ios would be. I am an avid supporter of nintendo but I am not sure how any devices on the handheld market will fare with the rise of smartphones. Already they have cameras, I-net, gps, media and apps. i could see in the future Nintendo making an app and a bluetooth controller to play some of their classics but i believe that they will at least continue their console line. But if one where to jailbreak their ios device they can already as is get a gameboy emulator. But i still have a classic DS and it works fine. battery is not too bad and the screen is a little scratched but they build quality products.link textlink textBut i need to upgrade. you have to watch at least the 2nd link its the best.